Sunday, December 14, 2008

Betrothed

Last week our son, Zach, asked Christina Prince of Holland, MI if she would marry him. We are pleased to announce that she said, “Yes.” They have been dating for over 2 years, with some of that time being spent many miles apart. From their first date in October 2006 to now, it has been fun to watch and hear of their growing relationship. They were both students at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI when they met. She has been here to visit several times and we have enjoyed getting to know her better.

Now begins the work of trying to make it all come together. I know that it can be a rather stressful time – location, dates, photographer, flowers, invitations, etc… My advice to Zach is to be praying and asking God to help it fall into place. Don’t allow the stress of planning your special day effect your relationship with the one you love.

Many years ago there was another man “pledged to be married”. Joseph, “a righteous man”, finds himself in a difficult situation when he finds out that Mary is pregnant. What should he do? How did this happen? How does he still protect Mary? The laws at that time could call for her stoning. Now that’s stress! Then God breaks through in a dream and an angel tells Joseph just what he should to.

What an example of faith both Joseph and Mary are to us. It is hard to even imagine what feelings they experienced through all of this. Fear Excitement Praise

Joseph “did what the Lord had commanded him.” Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

The last two weeks has been so busy for me. I am, to be honest, struggling at times as I feel the stress creep into my life. Our tree stands in our living room carrying only some of it’s lights. Our entry has boxes of ornaments and lights waiting their final placement. There are those special gifts yet to be found and the cookies that are still in their most early stages – like in the bags of flour and sugar! Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving was so late. Maybe it’s because we haven’t done anything for Advent here at home this year to remind me daily of the most precious birth ever. I don’t know. But, what I do know is that I want the rest of this Advent time to be different for me. I don’t want to be stressing on things that really aren’t all that important. What gets done, gets done. What doesn’t, doesn’t.

This is what REALLY matters.

“Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11

1 comment:

Nice post, Brenda and congratulations again to Zach and Christina. Amen, to remembering the most precious gift ever; the birth of Christ to save us from what judgment says we deserve.

Just so you know, we aren't having a Christmas tree this year, no lights up outside and one batch of cookies to give to Cody this weekend. Am I just feeling lazy? Perhaps. But perhaps I'm just trying to keep my focus on what this season really is all about. I'm trying anyhow.